Tree surgery.



G. K. FREEMAN.

TREESURGERL APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16. ma

Patented Jan. 29, 1918. v

which results in a further decay of the tree.

W rren area-ins. Parana prion,

GEORGE K. FREEMAN, or SANTA BARBARA, CALiIORNIA.

TREE SURGERY.

resaose.

. Application filed October 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE K. FREEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Barbara, in the county of Santa Bar- I bara and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tree Surgery, of which the following is a specification.

My invention'relates to tree surgery, and more particularly to the treatment of decayed portions of the trunk and branches of trees. Heretofore it has been customary to remove decayed portions of trees and fill the cavity so formed with ordinary cement or concrete, but such a filler is objectionable on account of the non-elasticity of the filler, and is also objectionable on account of the weight of such a filler when the cavity filled is of large dimensions. Furthermore, when a cavity is filled with ordinary cement or concrete, the movement of the tree, due to wind or other causes, loosens the filler from the wall of the cavity, thereby permitting the entrance of moisture around the filler,

The principal objects of my invention are to overcome these objectionable features, and in accomplishing these objects I provide an improved filling composition and manner of treating the tree, and also an improved constructionfor holding such composition in place. I

Referring to the drawings, which areifor illustrative purposes only: 7

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a portion of a tree trunk, partly in section, showing the cavity formed by the removal of the (lecayed portion of the tree.

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the trunkof a tree, showing the tree after the operation has been completed. Fig. 3 is a face view of the trunk of the vtree showing the completed work broken awayin different Planes; v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of my invention. v '5 designates a cavity formed in the tree 6 by the removal of a dead or diseased spot in the tree, the decayed wood having been removed and the wall-of the cavity, designated at 7 having been thoroughly cleaned" of such dead on decayed wood, after which the wall of the cavity is-painted or'sprayed with wood preservative and fungicide, such as coal tar. creosote, or copper sulfate solution. The bark indicated at 8, and thc'cam- Specification of Letters Patent.

1916'. Serial No. 126,016.

biuinindicated at 9, are traced back from theredge of the cavity, forming a shoulder 10 around the cavity and leaving exposed the face of the wood indicated at 11; This exposed wood on the shoulder 10 is painted with any well known form'of resinous liquid colored to harmonize with the bark of the tree, which painting is for the purpose of preventing a drying out or checking of'the wood so exposed.

The cavity 5 havln been cleaned out, and treated as outlined a ove, is filled with an' asphaltum mixture or filler indicated at 12, which mixture is made by heating asphaltum to a liquid condition, preferably not higher than the boiling point. From five to ten per cent, by weight, of diatomaceous earth is placed in the asphaltum, and sawdust added'slowly, with constant stirring, until the sawdust is thoroughly impregnated with the asphaltum. Sufficient sawdust is added untilthe mass becomes thick, although still hot and plastic. This material is then tamped into the cavity 5, completely filling .the same to within from three-eighths to one-half inch of the wood line indicated at 10. f

The cavity having been filled with the asphaltum mixture, means are now provided for holding such mixture or filler in place, which means consists of awall 13,,the outer face of which is flush with the wood line 10 when the wall is completed; This wall is made in the following manner: A sheet of galvanized'wire mesh 14 is cut to fit over the asphaltum filling inside the opening of the cavity and within the wood line 10.

Small pieces of wire mesh, indicated at 15, doubled back upon themselves, are placed between the sheet 14 and the face of the filling indicated at 16 to hold the sheet 14 spaced apart from the filling. The sheet 14 is then secured in the opening by'means of nails 17 which. are driven into the woodof the tree through theedges of the sheet 14, thenails being then bent back against the face of the'sheet 14: as clearly indicated at -18. ,The next step is to apply over the sheet lt'a mixture of two parts sand and one 1 Patented Jan. 29, 1918, v

part cement and waterpforcing the same through the mesh, thereby forming a wall,

the outersurface of which is substantially flush with the wood line 10 heretofore referred to. While this wall is still moist or wet the operation is completed by applyinga coating consistingsubstantially ofthree finishing the parts sand and one part-cement and equal parts of lamp black and burnt umber, sufiicient Water-being added to hold the mixture together, which mixture is applied in such a manner as to closely resemble the natural bark of the tree, both in color, contour and texture. The outer face 19 of this artificial bark is substantially on a line with the exterior face of the natural bark of the tree, and the artificial-bark covering is troweled down,'as indicated at 20, to the edge of the Wood line around the cavity. This form of mits the cambium to grow over the artificial bark, as 'inl dicated in dotted lines at 21.

I have ound that the form of tree surgery above outlined is particularly desirable in that the filler is comparatively light in weight, is plastic, and conforms. to the movement or growth of the tree, thereby not de-' By.

stroying the natural outlines of the. tree. the use of diatomaceous earth in the mixture, I find that the filler does not take up heat from the sun so that there is no oozingof the oil from the filldr, and further the nature of the fillerprevents the collection of water around the filler, and the filler is of such a nature that-the walls of the cavity are. kept in a healthful condition.

In the form shown in Fig. 4 is illustrated means whereby the screen is prevented from sagging when large cavities are treated. This is accomplished by toeing into the walls of the cavity 22 a timber 23, the filling 24: extending over the timber. Nails 25 are then edge of the artificial bark per- 1 meaoee driven through the Wiremesh 26 into the timber 23, thereby anchoring the wire mesh and holding the same in What I claim is 1. The method of tree surgery, which consists in removing the decayed matter from the tree, forming a cavity therein, tracing the bark back from the mouth of the cavity, thereby leaving the wood exposed around the mouth of the cavity, partially filling said position.

cavity with a plastic asphaltum mixture,

cavity, spacingsaid wire mesh away from the face of the filler, filling the space between the face of the filler and the mouth of the opening with a cenientitious mixture, embedding the wire mesh therein, and coating the cementitous mixture with an artificial bark.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 9th day (it October, 1916.

GEORGE K. FREEMAN.

Gomez; @2 than patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi fretents, Washington. D. G. 

